scholarly journals Association Between Perceived Stress and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Medical Staff During the COVID-19 Epidemic in Wuhan City

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songli Mei ◽  
Leilei Liang ◽  
Hui Ren ◽  
Yueyang Hu ◽  
Zeying Qin ◽  
...  

Objective: The study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among frontline medical staff during the lockdown in Wuhan city, China, due to the COVID-19 outbreak.Methods: The study was conducted in August 2020, which included 516 medical staff between 21 to 65 years. The PTSD Checklist-Civilian, Perceived Stress Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and Compassion Fatigue Short Scale were used.Results: The results indicated that 10.5% of the medical staff experienced PTSD symptoms, and insomnia severity mediated the effect of perceived stress on PTSD. In addition, compassion fatigue moderated the association between perceived stress and PTSD.Conclusion: The study elucidated the mechanisms underlying the association between perceived stress and PTSD. Moreover, it emphasized the importance of long-term monitoring of the mental health status of frontline medical staff who supported Wuhan. The results can serve as reference for relevant medical and health departments to formulate active interventions and preventive measures against PTSD for unsung heroes who put their lives on the line during difficult times.

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha Kader ◽  
Bushra Elhusein ◽  
Nirvana Swamy Kudlur Chandrappa ◽  
Abdulqadir J. Nashwan ◽  
Prem Chandra ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Intensive care unit (ICU) staff have faced unprecedented challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which could significantly affect their mental health and well-being. The present study aimed to investigate perceived stress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms reported by ICU staff working directly with COVID-19 patients. Methods The Perceived Stress Scale was used to assess perceived stress, the PTSD Diagnostic Scale for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) was used to determine PTSD symptoms, and a sociodemographic questionnaire was used to record different sociodemographic variables. Results Altogether, 124 participants (57.2% of whom were men) were included in the analysis. The majority of participants perceived working in the ICU with COVID-19 patients as moderately to severely stressful. Moreover, 71.4% of doctors and 74.4% of nurses experienced moderate-to-severe perceived stress. The staff with previous ICU experience were less likely to have a probable diagnosis of PTSD than those without previous ICU experience. Conclusions Assessing perceived stress levels and PTSD among ICU staff may enhance our understanding of COVID-19-induced mental health challenges. Specific strategies to enhance ICU staff’s mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic should be employed and monitored regularly. Interventions aimed at alleviating sources of anxiety in a high-stress environment may reduce the likelihood of developing PTSD.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Han Sheng ◽  
Rong Wang ◽  
Ming Yao ◽  
Qinghe Zhou ◽  
Zhihong Zhu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: In the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, medical staff is the main force for aiding in the control of the rapid spread. They have to risk lives to undertake the high-pressure task which may cause immediate and long-term psychological problems. This study aims to explore the trajectories of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over time after the outbreak and determine predictors associated with each trajectory. Methods: 448 medical workers participated in the investigation and completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Self-Rating Scale (PTSD-SS) for the first PTSD screening at 1 month after the outbreak and 259 (57.81%) of them finished the second round at 12 months. According to whether the medical staff had close contact with the COVID-19 patient, participants were divided into close contact group (CC group) and non-close contact group (non-CC group). While in each group, subgroups were created based on the time-varying changes of developing PTSD. Distinct patterns of PTSD symptom trajectories were established according to the different development of PTSD in respective subgroup. Then, repeated-measure analysis of variance(ANOVA), bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine predictors for trajectory membership.Results: Four trajectories of PTSD symptoms were found both in CC and non-CC group, namely, resilience (25.28%, 45.24%, respectively), recovery (36.26%, 32.74%, respectively), chronic (16.48%, 10.71%, respectively), and delayed (21.98%, 11.31%, respectively). ANOVA revealed that PTSD scores were significantly changed through time both in CCs and non- CCs. With bivariate and multivariate analyses, several socio-demographic predictors and work experience related factors were found in the CC group, while limited ones in the non-CC group. This means that although the trajectory trends are similar between these two groups, the methods of psychological intervention may need to be treated differently. Furthermore, CC group had less resilient individuals (p=0.002) and more delayed PTSD sufferers (p=0.022) compared with non-CC medical staff, which suggest that CCs were more likely to experience PTSD course and encounter long-term psychological problems.Conclusions: A considerable number of medical personnel have long-term PTSD, both in CC group and non-CC group, which deserve public attention. Identified factors may indicate preventive and treatment interventions for medical workers with PTSD symptoms.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Humbelina Robles-Ortega ◽  
Pedro Guerra ◽  
Isis González-Usera ◽  
José Luis Mata-Martín ◽  
M. Carmen Fernández-Santaella ◽  
...  

AbstractDespite the higher proportion of foreclosures and home evictions executed in Spain, compared to other countries, and the known link between social exclusion and mental health problems, studies exploring this association in Spain remain scarce. This study investigated the link between the process of home eviction and the appearance of symptomatology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. Two hundred and five people affected by the process of home eviction were assessed using a structured interview that included three validated assessment instruments for PTSD, perceived stress, anxiety and depression. Analysis involved comparison with the normative groups that formed the validation studies together with regression analysis to determine the major psychological and socio-demographic predictors of perceived stress. Of the participants, 95.1% reported that they were experiencing the process of home eviction with fear, helplessness, or horror. In PTSD symptomatology, they scored higher than the normative PTSD group in symptoms of avoidance (t = 5.01; p < .05), activation (t = 5.48; p < .01), and total score (t = 4.15; p < .05). Of this subgroup, 72.5% fulfilled the DSM-IV symptom criteria for PTSD. The major predictor of perceived stress was PTSD symptomatology (B = .09; p < .001). The process of home eviction in Spain is having an alarming impact on mental health of affected people calling for effective measures to provide psychological and social support.


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